Halloween Freakfest organizing reaching a crescendo

"We meet every week," says John Kunz, the promoter responsible for organizing the entertainment at Freakfest on State Street on Saturday, Oct. 28. He's been spending the last several weeks confirming the details and working to minimize risk for the big party. "We go over everything; media, advertising, sponsorships, every detail of this from staffing the event to banner placement. Really confirming everything that's been set forth. I just confirmed security. I've worked with many of these vendors and businesses for a long time and we're ready to roll."

One of Kunz's major priorities in the final days before the event is ironing out all of the details on the entertainment. Everything looks ready to go now, with a tentative schedule set for all ten acts.

Three bands were confirmed to the line-up on Monday, and announced shortly thereafter. While Depth by Depth withdrew from performing due to an injury, three new bands were announced: Butt Funnel (self-described "German techno-pop" from Madison), Smile Thru This (indie rock from Milwaukee) and Delta Nove (funk from Long Beach). All that remains to be announced is the headliner.

Kunz has also been busy putting together the schedule for the two stages, set for Gorham Street adjacent to the Buckeye Parking Lot and at the top of State Street in front of the Capitol. The working line-up for Freakfest features five acts at each site, with the Capitol location serving as the main stage.

Capitol Stage

12:00 a.m. ' 1:15 a.m. -- [Headliner]

10:45 p.m. ' 11:45 p.m. -- I Voted for Kodos

9:30 p.m. ' 10:30 p.m. -- The Crest

8:30 p.m. ' 9:15 p.m. -- DJ Jeremy Thomas

7:30 p.m. ' 8:15 p.m. -- Delta Nove

Gorham Stage

12:00 a.m. ' 1:15 a.m. -- Mighty Short Bus

10:45 p.m. ' 11:45 p.m. -- Paper Tiger

9:30 p.m. ' 10:30 p.m. -- Plunket

8:30 p.m. ' 9:15 p.m. -- Butt Funnel

7:30 p.m. ' 8:15 p.m. -- Smile Thru This

As detailed in this schedule, both stages are set to close up shop around 1:30 a.m. early on Sunday, Oct. 29. This is preceding the end Daylight Savings Time. After 1:59 a.m., the next minute will be 1 a.m., thus extending bar time for an hour that morning.

Kunz explains how he intends for the show to end: "It's like any event. The ending is at 1:30 a.m. We're not kicking anybody out, but we're shutting the streets to do clean-up and take down the stages. Our goal is to make this like a festival, to give everybody fun and make them enthused. I think by 1:30 a.m., we'll win the crowd over and they'll be ready to go home."

What about the weather? The forecast currently calls for cold and potentially snowy conditions through Saturday, though this can change as quickly as anything. "We're going to be jamming; rain, shine, show, whatever," Kunz says. "That stages would not shut down unless there is an electrical storm."